red eve-第40章

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people；　may　demand　an　account　of　us。〃

So　spoke　Dick　as　one　who　seeks　an　answer；　but　neither　of　his
companions　gave　him　any。

On　they　went　through　the　ruined　land　unpursued；　although　they　had　just
brought　sundry　men　to　their　deaths。　For　now　neither　law　nor　justice
was　left　and　those　killed　who　could　and　those　died　who　must；　unwept
and　unavenged。　Only　certain　travellers；　flying　they　knew　not　whither；
flying　from　doom　to　doom；　eyed　them　with　hate　and　loathing　because　of
their　companions。　Those　who　consorted　with　Jews　must；　they　thought；　be
the　enemies　of　every　Christian　soul。

Well　was　it　for　them　perhaps　that　the　early　winter　night　was　closing
in　when　they　reached　the　wonderful　bridge　of　St。　B閚閦et；　now　quite
unguarded；　since　a　worse　foe　reigned　in　Avignon　than　any　that　it　could
fear　from　without。　They　crossed　it；　unnoted；　for　here　none　lingered　in
the　gloom　and　rain　save　one　poor　woman；　who　called　out　to　them　that
all　she　loved　were　dead　and　that　she　went　to　seek　them。　Then；　before
they　could　interfere；　she　scrambled　to　the　parapet　of　the　bridge　and
with　a　wild　cry　leapt　into　the　foaming　waters　that　rushed　beneath。

〃God　forgive　and　rest　her！〃　muttered　Hugh；　crossing　himself。　The
others　only　shrugged　their　shoulders。　Such　dreadful　sights　fed　their
eyes　daily　till　they　learned　to　take　little　note　of　them。

In　a　deserted　place　on　the　farther　side　of　the　bridge　they　halted；　and
Hugh　said　to　the　Jewish　widow：

〃Woman；　here　is　Avignon；　where　you　tell　us　there　are　those　who　will
befriend　you；　so　now　let　us　part。　We　have　done　what　we　can　for　you　and
it　is　not　safe　either　for　you　or　for　us　that　we　should　be　seen
together　in　this　Christian　city。〃

〃Sir；　you　speak　well；〃　she　answered。　〃Be　pleased　ere　we　separate；　to
meet　no　more　perchance；　to　tell　me　your　names　that　I　may　remember　them
and　hand　them　down　among　my　people　from　generation　to　generation。〃

So　he　told　her；　and　thrust　onto　her　a　gift　of　money　and　the　most　of
such　food　as　remained　to　them。　Then　the　poor　woman　lifted　up　her　arms
and　said：

〃I；　Rebecca；　daughter　of　Onias　and　wife　of　Nathan；　call　down　on　you；
Hugh　de　Cressi；　Richard　Archer　and　David　Day；　and　on　your　children
forever；　the　blessings　of　Jehovah；　because　you　have　rescued　the　widow
and　her　children　from　the　fire　and　avenged　the　murder　of　the　husband
and　the　father。　O　God　of　my　people；　as　Thou　didst　save　Lot　and　his
house　from　the　flames　of　Sodom；　so　save　these　true…hearted　and
merciful　men！　Turn　from　them　the　sword　of　Thy　wrath　when　it　smites　the
sinful　cities！　Cast　the　cloak　of　Thy　protection　about　them　and　all
they　love！　Prosper　their　handiwork　in　peace　and　in　war；　fulfil　their
desire　upon　their　enemies；　and　at　last　let　them　die　full　of　years　and
honour　and　so　be　gathered　into　Thy　eternal　bosom！　Thus　prayeth
Rebecca；　the　daughter　of　Onias；　and　thus　shall　it　be。〃

Then；　leading　her　children；　she　turned　and　vanished　into　the　darkness。

〃Now；〃　said　Dick　when　she　had　gone；　〃although　they　were　spoken　by　a
Jew　whom　men　call　accursed　because　their　forefathers；　fulfilling
prophecy；　or　some　few　of　them；　wrought　a　great　crime　when　the　world
was　young　and　thereby　brought　about　the　salvation　of　mankind；　as　we
believe；　those　are　among　the　most　comfortable　words　to　which　my　ears
have　listened；　especially　such　of　them　as　dealt　with　the　fulfilling　of
our　desire　upon　our　enemies　in　war。　Well；　they　are　spoke；　and　I　doubt
not　registered　in　a　book　which　will　not　be　lost。　So；　master；　let　us
seek　a　lodging　in　this　city　of　Avignon；　which；　for　my　part；　I　do　with
a　light　heart。〃

Hugh　nodded；　and　his　heart　also　was　lightened　by　those　words　of
blessing　and　good　omen。　Mounting　their　horses；　they　took　a　street　that
led　them　past　the　great　Roches　des　Doms；　on　the　crest　of　which　stood
the　mighty　palace　of　the　Popes；　as　yet　unfinished；　but　still　one　of
the　vastest　buildings　they　had　ever　seen。　Here　on　the　battlements　and
in　front　of　the　gateway　burned　great　fires；　lit　by　order　of　his
Holiness　to　purify　the　air　and　protect　him　and　his　Court　from　the
plague。

Leaving　this　place　on　their　right　they　rode　slowly　along　one　of　the
principal　streets　of　the　town；　seeking　an　inn。　Soon　they　found　one；　a
large　place　that　had　a　sign　on　which　three　shepherds　were　painted；　and
turned　to　enter　its　gateway。　But；　when　they　saw　them；　out　of　that
gateway　rushed　a　mob　of　frantic　people　waving　swords　and　cudgels；　and
saying　that　they　would　have　no　strangers　there　to　bring　the　Death
among　them。

〃Let　us　go　on；〃　said　Hugh；　〃for　here　it　seems　we　are　not　welcome。〃

So　they　went　and　tried　three　other　inns　in　turn。　At　two　of　them　they
met　with　a　like　greeting；　but　the　doors　of　the　third　were　closed　and
the　place　was　deserted。　Then；　for　a　crowd　began　to　gather　round　them；
wearily　enough　they　turned　up　another　street　at　hazard。　Thus　they
wended　their　way　back　toward　the　great　central　rock；　thinking　that
there　they　might　find　some　more　hospitable　tavern。

Following　this　new　street；　they　reached　a　less　crowded　suburb　of　the
town；　where　large　dwellings　stood　in　their　own　gardens。　One　of　these；
they　saw　by　the　flare　of　some　of　those　fires　which　burned　all　about
the　city　in　this　time　of　pestilence；　seemed　to　be　a　small　castle。　At
least　it　had　a　moat　round　it　and　a　drawbridge；　which　was　down。　Seeing
that　lamps　burned　in　its　windows；　Hugh；　who　was　worn　out　with　their
long　journeyings；　took　a　sudden　resolution。

〃Doubtless　some　knight　dwells　in　this　fine　house；〃　he　said　to　his
companions。　〃Let　us　go　up　and　declare　our　names　and　degree　and　by
virtue　of　them　claim　the　hospitality　which　is　our　right。〃

〃Be　it　so；〃　grumbled　Dick。　〃We　cannot　be　worse　treated　there　than　we
were　at　the　inns；　unless　the　owner　adds　arrows　to　the　swords　and
cudgels。〃

They　rode　across　the　drawbridge　to　the　gateway　of　the　little　castle；
which　was　open；　and　finding　no　one　there；　through　a　small　courtyard　to
the　door；　which　also　was　open。

David　dismounted　and　knocked　on　it；　but　none　answered。

〃An　empty　house　belongs　to　no　one；〃　said　Dick；　〃at　any　rate　in　these
times。　Let　us　enter。〃

They　did　so；　and　saw　that　the　place　was　sumptuously　appointed。　Though
ancient；　it　was　not　large；　having；　as　they　afterward　discovered；　been
a　fortification　on　an　outer　wall　now　demolished；　which　had　been　turned
to　the　purposes　of　a　dwelling。　Leaving　the　hall　out　of　which　opened
the　refectory；　they　mounted　a　stone　stair　to　the　upper　chambers；　and
entered　one　of　them。

Here　they　saw　a　strange　and　piteous　sight。　On　a　bed；　about　which
candles　still　burned；　lay　a　young　woman　who　had　been　very　beautiful；
arrayed　in　a　bride's　robe。

〃Dead　of　the　plague；〃　said　Hugh；　〃and　deserted　at　her　death。　Well；　she
had　better　luck　than　many；　since　she　was　not　left　to　die　alone。　Her
dress　and　these　candles　show　it。〃

〃Ay；〃　answered　Dick；　〃but　fear　took　the　watchers　at　last　and　they　are
fled。　Well；　we　will　fill　their　place；　and；　if　they　do　not　return
to…morrow；　give　her　honourable　burial　in　her　own　courtyard。　Here　be
fine　lodgings　for　us；　master；　so　let　us　bide　in　them　until　the
rightful　owners　cast　us　out。　Come；　David；　and　help　me　raise　that
drawbridge。〃

Fine　lodgings　these　proved　to　be　indeed；　since；　as　they　found；　no
house　in　Avignon　was　better　furnished　with　all　things　needful。　But；
and　this　will　show　how　dreadful　were　the　times；　during　these　days　that
they　made　this　their　home　they　never　so　much　as　learned　the　name　of
that　poor　lady　arrayed　in　the　bride's　dress　and　laid　out　upon　her
marriage　bed。

In　the　butteries　and　cellar　were　plentiful　provisions　of　food。　Having
eaten　of　it　with　thankfulness；　they　chose　out　one　of　the　bed…chambers
and　slept　there　quite　undisturbed　till　the　morning　sun　shone　in　at　the
window…places　and　awoke　them。　Then　they　arose；　and；　digging　a　shallow
grave　in　the　courtyard　with　some　garden　tools　which　they　found　in　a
shed；　they　bore　out　the　poor　bride；　and；　removing　only　her　jewels；
which　were　rich　enough；　buried　her　there　in　her　wedding　dress。　This
sad　duty　finished；　they　washed　themselves　with　water　from　the　well；
and　breakfasted。　After　they　had　eaten　they　consulted　as　to　what　they
should　do　next。

〃We　came　here　to　lay　a　certain　cause　before　his　Holiness；〃　said　Hugh。
〃Let　us　go　up　to　the　palace；　declare　our　business　and　estate；　and　ask
audience。〃

So；　leaving　David　in　charge　of　the　house；　which　they　named　the　Bride's
Tower　because　of　the　dead　lady　and　the　little　keep　which　rose　above
it；　and　of　the　horses　that　they　had　stalled　in　the　stable；　they　went
out　and　made　their　way　to　the　great　entrance　of　the　Pope's　palace。
Here　they　found　the　gates　shut　and　barred；　with　a　huge　fire　burning
behind　them。

Still　they　knocked　until　some　guards　appeared　armed　with　cross…bows；
and　asked　their　business。　They　said　they　desired　to　see　his　Holiness；
or　at　least　one　of　his　secretaries；　whereon　the　guards　asked　whence
they　came。　They　replied　from　Italy；　and　were　told　that　if　so　they
would　find　no　entrance　there；　since　the　Death　had　come　from　Italy。　Now
Hugh　gave　his　name　and　stated　his　business　on　hearing　which　the　guards
laughed　at　him。

〃Annulment　of　a　false　marriage！〃　said　their　captain。　〃Go　lay　your
petition　before　Death；　who　will　do　your　business　swiftly　if　he　has　not
done　it　already。　Get　you　gone；　you　English　knight；　with　your　white…
faced　squire。　We　want　no　English　here　at　the　best　of　times；　and　least
of　all　if　they　hail　from　Italy。〃

〃Come　on；　master；〃　said　Dick；　〃there　are　more　ways　into　a　house　than
by　the　front　doorand　we　won't　want　to　leave　our　brains　to　grease　its
hinges。〃

So　they　went　away；　wondering　whither　they　should　betake　themselves　or
what　they　could　do　next。　As　it　chanced；　they　had　not　long　to　wait　for
an　answer。　Presently　a　lantern…jawed　notary　in　a　frayed　russet　gown；
who　must　have　been　watching　their　movements；　approached　them　and　asked
them　what　had　been　their　business　at　the　Pope's　palace。　Hugh　told　him；
whereon　the　lawyer；　finding　that　he　was　a　person　of　high　degree；
became　deferential　in　his　manner。　Moreover；　he　announced　that　he　was　a
notary　named　Basil　of　Tours　and　one　of　the　legal　secretaries　of　his
Holiness；　who　just　now　was　living　without　the　gates　of　the　palace　by
express　command　in　order　to　attend　to　the　affairs　of　suitors　at　the
Papal　Court　during　the　Great　Sickness。　He　added；　however；　that　he　was
able　to　communicate　with　those　within；　and　that　doubtless　it　might　be
in　his　power　to　forward　the　cause　of　the　noble　knight；　Sir　Hugh　de
Cressi；　in　which　already　he　took　much　interest。

〃There　would　be　a　fee？〃　suggested　Dick；　looking　at　the　man　coldly。

Basil　answered　with　a　smirk　that　fees　and　legal　affairs　were
inseparable；　the　latter　naturally　involved　the　former。　Not　that　he
cared　for　money；　he　remarked；　especially　in　this　time　of　general　woe。
Still；　it　would　never　do　for　a　lawyer；　however　humble；　to　create　a
precedent　which　might　be　used　against　his　craft　in　better　days。　Then
he　named　a　sum。

Hugh　handed　him　double　what　he　asked；　whereon　he　began　to　manifest
great　zeal　in　his　case。　Indeed；　he　accompanied　them　to　the　fortified
house　that　they　had　named　the　Bride's　Tower；　which　he　alleged；　with　or
without　truth；　he　had　never　seen　before。　There　he　wrote　down　all
particulars　of　the　suit。

〃Sir　Edmund　Acour；　Count　de